SARS-CoV-2 Niches in Human Placenta Revealed by Spatial Transcriptomics
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ABSTRACT: Diverse placental functions are compartmentalized to separate maternal-fetal antigens and restrict vertical transmission of pathogens. We hypothesized a high-resolution map, with single-cell and spatial resolution, would identify previously undetectable microbe immune microenvironments. To test this hypothesis, we utilized Visium Spatial Transcriptomics paired with H&E staining to generate 17,927 spatial transcriptomes and integrated these data with 273,944 published placenta single-cell and single-nuclei transcriptomes to generate a term placenta atlas of the maternal decidua, fetal chorionic villi, and chorioamniotic membranes. Comparisons of healthy control placentae (n=4), SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic (n=4; no COVID-19 symptoms), and symptomatic (n=5; pneumonia, respiratory failure) placentae identified distinct thresholds of SARS-CoV-2 detection including (i) no detectable virus, (ii) sparse virus (limit of detection determined to be 1/7,000 cells), and (iii) highly positive SARS-CoV-2 in syncytiotrophoblasts, rigorously cross-validated by RT-qPCR, RNAscope, and immunohistochemistry. High levels of SARS-CoV-2 in placentae were associated with histiocytic intervillositis and perivillous fibrin deposition. Spatial transcriptomics revealed that this led to a significant shift from anti-inflammatory M2 macrophage populations toward intermediate pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages. In conclusion, we identified immune microenvironments representing host-pathogen battlegrounds where SARS-CoV-2 detection in the placenta was not dependent on maternal symptoms. Additional studies utilizing this approach are warranted, especially in the placenta.
ORGANISM(S): Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE222987 | GEO | 2023/07/05
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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